ALGIERS - Algeria and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) sealed an agreement on Tuesday to utilize the Dar El Beïda airport hotel, in Algiers, as a dedicated facility for irregular migrants enrolled in the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) program.
The signing ceremony, held at the Algiers Governorate, was chaired by the Minister of the Interior, Local Authorities, and National Planning, Saïd Sayoud, alongside the Director General of the IOM, Amy Pope. The event was attended by the Governor (Wali) of Algiers, Abdennour Rabhi, and members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Algeria.
In a press statement, Minister Sayoud noted that the IOM Director General's visit "provided an opportunity for her to observe the significant resources the Algerian State devotes to supporting irregular migrants."
"Our talks also addressed the ongoing measures deployed to curb the phenomenon of irregular migration," he continued.
The minister emphasized the importance of tackling irregular migration at the source, noting that Pope "expressed her satisfaction with the material and human resources that Algeria devotes to irregular migrants across the national territory."
Sayoud reaffirmed that Algeria "will continue to work with international organizations, neighboring countries, and Mediterranean states to respond to the challenge of irregular migration."
For her part, Amy Pope commended Algeria’s "responsible and humanitarian management" of the migration issue, as well as the significant resources allocated to this end.
She expressed her readiness to foster cooperation with Algeria to find lasting solutions to the phenomenon.
During the ceremony, the IOM honored the Interior Minister in recognition of his continued support for the organization’s various programs in Algeria.
A video presentation highlighted Algeria’s efforts to address migration through a humanitarian approach, in line with the directives of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
Earlier in the day, the IOM Director General visited the airport hotel, touring the facilities designated for the accommodation and welfare of irregular migrants.
